Dec 09 2008
TESTIMONY TUESDAY
Verse of the day:
Matthew 8:17 (NKJV) that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaiah the prophet, saying:
“ He Himself took our infirmities
And bore our sicknesses.”
I have received some wonderful testimonies and praise reports to share with you. I will be posting their original words and then adding a bit of extra special information that i know to be true about each situation. It is so exciting to see your praises come in and I know that God will use these to help and encourage others.
First up is Tammy:
I am a non - traditional college student trying to get my teaching certification with a bachelors degree for elementary school special education field of study. I know God had opened doors for me to go back to college after my husband was diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor in 1999. Even though it was a struggle for our family financially, we were blessed because my husband became open to learning about how Jesus is alive and real in our lives with the love of a church family and friends who supported us with uplifted prayers and benefits that helped our young family through some very rough spots. He accepted the Lord as his personal Lord and Savior and has been trusting him with healing for over 9 years now living cancer free from the brain tumor with some minor surgeries. He is now on disability but with the new issue of myself needing to be the main bread winner in our home, I was able to qualify for a Pell grant and get full funding for my A.A. degree at a local community college. I am continuing on with working toward this teaching certificate while working full time at the local school and just recently working at a local drug rehabilition facility.
I have been struggling with many hardships and wondering if God really knows what he is doing with me. I have struggled with trying to serve the Lord with my own strength and not trusting Him enough to take care of my incidental little problems that seem to crop up. Each new day as I read this bible study and have met fellow co-workers at my new job, I get encouraged to just keep on keeping on for Jesus. Even though it seems like I have been a Christian all my life, I know that each day that I give more of myself to Jesus, the more that I get back in return. So I encourage you to remember this little quote ” Life is a trial, mile by mile, Life is hard, yard by yard, But it’s
a cinch, inch by inch.
My prayer for you all is: ”May today be exciting. Not because of extraordinary happenings but because You Lord make every day things special. Take full control of each “inch” in my life Lord and make it joyous. Amen.”
Some of the things that Tammy does not tell you are so very important. She does not tell you about the wonderful children’s ministry that god has used her to start at her church and how they have combined this children’s ministry with a rest home ministry. Each week she and her church take the church bus around town and pick up any kids that want to attend (as long as their parents say it is OK). they go to the church and spend about an hour or a little more on Bilbe study, songs, and games that glorify God. They eat a snack/meal and then are taken home. Once a month the children are allowed to bring a friendly pet with them and then all of these kids and their pets desend on the local nursing home and visit with the residents there before going to the church for their meal and devotion. It is really quite a sight to see. I was allowed to join them once and Tammy truly has a gift from God with these children.
Our next testimony comes from Micky:
I spent all my childhood in orphanages – my mother abandoned me when I was two. In retrospect a blessing in disguise.
Fours years ago, after years of counseling, I dropped into a black hole – four months of absolute terror. I wanted to end my life. I reached out to a friend who took me to hospital. I had three visits to hospital in four months – I actually thought I was in hell.
I imagined I would be locked away – but the hospital staffs were very supportive - I had no control over my process.
I was released from hospital 16th Sep 2004, but my fear, pain & shame had only subsided a little. I woke up one morning & my process would start up again - fear, pain, & shame. No one could help me, not even my therapist – I was terrified.
I got on my knees one morning & asked Jesus Christ to have mercy on me - and forgive me for me my sins. Slowly all my fear & shame dissipated. I believe Jesus delivered me from my “psychological prison.” I am a practicing Catholic & the Holy Spirit is my friend & strength; every day since then has been a joy & blessing.
I deserve to go to hell for the life I have led, but Jesus through His sacrifice on the cross, delivered me from my inequities. John 3: 8, John 15: 26, are verses I can relate to, organically.
Praise the Lord!
Micky
While I do not know Micky face to face as I do Tammy I do know a bit more than Micky tells us here. You see Micky has a wonderful blog which I encourage you to check out as soon as you get the time. Micky brings us this great testimony from Australia which means that he has seen real live kangaroos in their natural habitat which I personally think is amazing. OK I am easily impressed, but you really should check out more of his stuff and be sure to let him know you stopped by. We have had some pretty good discussions over there.
Our next bit of news is a praise report that was sent to me today by one of the local pastors ( not mine) although I do love this lady.
MissionCast: New Life in Small Churches
Led by Pastor Margie Briggs, the Calhoun and Drake’s Chapel United Methodist Churches have reached out to the community through their Angel Food Ministry and in other ways and have received new life. Adam Hamilton, pastor of Church of the Resurrection UMC, has lifted up their example by sending the Church of the Resurrection film crew to the Calhoun and Drake’s Chapel United Methodist Churches to show his congregation the new life they are experiencing. We are thankful to them for giving permission to use their video material for MissionCast #94. View MissionCast at http://MOMissionCast.com
Now why would I include this you are wondering? This is a story about two very tiny churches that have grown in leaps and bounds since the arrival of their new pastor. She brought with her some outreach minisrty and once the churches began reaching out people began coming in. WOW! Is that innovative or what? OK, not such a new idea since that is exactly how Jesus reached people. He reached out. I think it is refreshing to see people begining to do what Jesus did.
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